Book excerpt: Bars need significant capital to get off the ground — and a liquor license. When it comes down to it, opening a bar is very similar to starting a small business of any kind — with the added aspect, of course, of serving alcohol to customers. In addition, it's important to note that bars require around-the-clock maintenance, they need significant capital to get started, and they aren’t recession-proof. Therefore, you'll want to make sure you take the time and effort necessary to plan strategically in order to successfully open your own bar.